-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- A day of kayaking and backpacking on Hawaii 's Big Island changed in an instant as the might of the Pacific Ocean swept six teenagers into the surf .

One remains missing .

The group of 12 students and their guides , who were on their way to a waterfall , were taking a break at a tide pool 15 feet above the swirling ocean and 50 feet inland when rogue waves hit .

'' -LRB- T -RRB- he waves were totally unexpected , '' Abbott Wallis , founder and executive director of tour operator Bold Earth Teen Adventures , said Sunday .

The surf sucked two of the teenagers into the sea Wednesday and left four others clinging for their lives along the cliff and rocky shoals .

Kayak guides `` immediately dived into the water at risk to their own lives '' and rescued five of the teens , said Bari Sims of Hawaii Pack and Paddle . The sixth , 15-year-old Tyler Madoff of White Plains , New York , has not been found . Authorities suspended search operations for his rescue Thursday evening .

The other student swept out to sea remains hospitalized after his rescue , but is expected to recover . One of the kayak guides resuscitated him at the scene .

`` I ca n't convey my shock and sorrow , '' Wallis said . `` We 're doing all we can to support the families and students . As a parent myself , I can only imagine what the families are feeling right now . ''

Tyler 's father , Michael Madoff , strongly criticized Bold Earth , but said the family would not seek legal action against the tour operator .

`` People of Bold Earth Expeditions have shown poor judgment and extremely poor character , '' Madoff said Sunday . `` None of the Bold Earth people stayed on site to continue the search for our son Tyler . ''

`` We 're devastated by this , '' Wallis said in response . `` There 's nothing Mr. Madoff can say that we disagree with . ''

A statement from the company says Bold Earth has served nearly 12,000 students on six continents since it was founded in 1976 . Wallis said last week 's accident was the first significant incident in the company 's history .

CNN 's Ed Payne contributed to this report .

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One kayaker has been missing since last week

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Kayak guides rescued five of the teen kayakers

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The missing teenager 's father says the family wo n't seek legal action

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Bold Earth Teen Adventures was founded in 1976